European Concerts and Tours

EMCY works together with its member competitions and partners to give as many young prize winners as possible the opportunity to perform around Europe. Many EMCY Member Competitions incorporate a European Concert with prize winners from other competitions in their programme, and many bi- and multilateral exchange projects have been set up between member competitions. EMCY establishes contact between member competitions, concert organisers and prize winners and helps and advises on the setting up of projects and partnerships.

A 15-year-old child played violin like Niccolò Paganini and charmed the audience in Meistersingerhalle, Nuremberg. Together with the conductor Christian Reuter and the Nürnberger Symphoniker, Kevin Miura, the winner of Menuhin Competition, performed on December 26 a wonderful concert.

The art project “Music is the Supreme Revelation!’’ will toke place on 24th November in the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, in Kyiv.The most talented students of artistic specialized schools subordinate to the Ministry of Culture as well as representatives of EMCY will take part in this project.

From 17th to 20th November the International Festival «European concerts in Saint-Petersburg» took place in Saint-Petersburg. The festival is organised by Mravinsky International Competition for Youth in colaboration with EMCY and the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg and takes place every 2 years.

Ten talented prize winners coming from several countries performed at the Mirgorod House of Culture.

Victoria International Arts Festival in Malta

Flute East Trio performed on 17th June at St George’s Basilica the following programme:

P. Bocquillon, Territoires

J. Casterede, Flutes en vacances

F. Kuhlau, Trio e minor for three flutes Nr.1, Op.86

T. Pecou, pour un rituel imaginaire

J. J. Quantz, Sonate for three flutes in D Major Nr.116

Epoche_f

During the master course Epoche_f 2017, winners of national and international music competitions for young musicians, rehearsed 21st and 20th-century works in individual, group and tutti sessions, working with the internationally renowned musicians of Ensemble Modern and the conductor Lucas Vis. EMCY partners in this project send this year 10 EMCY Prize winners with a full scholarship to Epoche_f goes Europe: Frida Juul Lunde (Denmark), Sebastian Breit (Austria), Peter Martin Kappel (Denmark), Dominika Gúberová (Slovakia), Miguel Barros (Portugal), Adam Druga (Slovakia), Gustav Piekut (Denmark) Martin Pavlík (Slovakia), Lia Yeranosyan (Portugal)

On 20th October, EMCY prize winner Se Tcoi performed a lunchtime recital at the prestigious Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Netherlands). This year the program of the concert consisted in small works of various composers on the theme of “Nature”.

When asked about her experience, Se Tcoi responded: "I was lucky enough to perform in The Netherlands and now I would like to confess I fell in love with Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. The concert was held in a pleasant, homely atmosphere and our performance has found a warm response among the public.”

Epoche_f master class

For the third year in a row, with the support of the Stiftung Niedersachsen, EMCY could offer to 7 Prize Winners the opportunity to attend the prestigious international master class on contemporary music epoche f.

This year the master class took place in the city of Wolfenbüttel (Germany), from 15th to 23rd October and featured two prestigious concerts.

'We had a really great time in Wolfenbüttel! Due to the excellent professors coaching us for the whole week it helped us to learn all the difficult pieces and how to play contemporary music. A very important thing was rhythm. Every day, we started with a Rhythm workshop, which was fundamental of our further work. Last two days we performed two wonderful concerts, the second one was in Göttingen.'Luka Mitev

'In October 2016 I was lucky to take part in the epoche_f master class. I really enjoyed it because I had and incredible experience there. All the rehearsals were very interesting, instructive and the atmosphere was friendly. Our conductor Lukas Vis made a lot for everyone in the orchestra. Also we had rhythm workshops with the amazing percussionist Rainer Römer. These classes were helpful for us, our experience was unique. During our week we were preparing great moderations with Anne Kussmaul. So we learnt more about pieces we played and about speaking on stage. And I want to say thank you for the opportunity to participate. The course was absolutely free for me and it's very important for young musicians who need a support.'Maria Filippova

Iserlohn master class

From 20th to 25th September took place the Iserlohn Master classwith the phenomenal violoncellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, in the framework of the 39th ‘Internationale Herbsttage für Musik’ in Iserlohn, Germany. In collaboration with the music school of Iserlohn, a scholarship to attend the master class was offered to two prize winners: Benjamin Kruithof and Gonçalo Lélis.

'The masterclass in Iserlohn was a wonderful experience for me.Mister W.E. Schmidt is a great teacher.I met a few other students who were very friendly and musicians of a high level.I'm very thankful,that You gave me the chance to participate in this masterclass.'Benjamin Kruithof

'I had a great time in Weimar. Meeting Peter Sadlo was a big inspiration for me, both musically and personally. And his passing made even more important what he tried to show and teach us those days, and his message and ideas about music and life. I am very glad that the EMCY gave me the opportunity of meeting him and spending that great week in Weimar.'Noè Rodrigo

Ten talented prize winners coming from several countries performed at the Mirgorod House of Culture. Among them, young pianist Roman Fedyurka from Kiev and winner of the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz as well as the Krainev International Competition for Young Pianists, pianist Anastasia Guy, also a winner of the Krainev International Competition for Young Pianists, flutist Iris Maaß (photo), clarinetist Vladislav Petrik, winner of many international competitions.

'On 6th of July, my tour to Ukraine has begun. I flew from the Vienna airport to Kiev – Boryspil, where I was picked up. By train, I continued my journey toward Mirgorod. Immediately after my arrival, I experienced a traditional folk festival, which brought me the culture and the life of Ukrainian closer. The next three days I was rehearsing my 30 minutes program for my concert. On Sunday 10th July, I played the concerto in the theatre in Mirgorod, which was sold out. It was a great success and a great experience. The audience was so enthusiastic, that the Ukrainian organisation invited me for another solo concert with orchestra in Charkiw at the end of November. Many thanks to all parties, as well as to EMCY, for this wonderful stay.'Iris Maaß

Ausgezeichnet!

Aarón Ribas, 1st Prize and EMCY Prize winner of the Concurso Permanente de Jóvenes Intérpretes in 2014 played at the matinee concert Ausgezeichnet! in the framework of the 53th edition of the German national youth music competition Jugend musiziert, along with prize winners of former Jugend musiziert competitions. Aarón performed the Sinfonía Nº6, by Charles-Marie Widor.

The concerts were part of the EU programme INTER-NATIONAL net_works+, a training and networking project for organisers of national youth music competitions across Europe. It facilitates the mobility of young people, improves the quality of support systems on local, national and European level and it brings together young people from a range of educational, social and cultural backgrounds.

Gustas remarked: `In Lithuania to have a concert is very difficult and this EMCY tour offers us six concerts in six days - it is a miracle! ´

On 10 March they played their first concert at the European School Luxembourg II in front of a young public. The day after they gave a concert at the Eglise Protestante de Luxembourg, where Astrid said: ‘the acoustics, the piano and the venue made it a delight to play there’ and another concert in Bertrange at ArcA. These great concerts allowed the Luxembourgish public to discover the young talents.

The musicians then performed at the Iserlohn Musikschule the 13 March, a beautiful venue that Natalia instantly fell in love with. After Iserlohn they played at the Evengelisch-Freikirchlichen in Köln. The tour wrapped up with a concert in Osnabrück, where the musicians seduced the audience and left them wanting to discover more of their talent.

It was an amazing week of musical exchange, personal discovery, learning and good moments. The musicians were elated to participate in this experience. They now have new friends and they have already organized their next meeting together. We wish them all the best!

You can read a press article about the tour from the Osnabrücker Zeitung (in German) here.

Concerts opportunities for EMCY Prize winners in 2015

Epoche_f

"I really don't know how to thank you properly for making possible my experience in this master course with the Ensemble Modern." Miguel Erlich, violin, participant 2015

The second year now EMCY, with the support of the Stiftung Niedersachsen, could propose a full scholarship to 4 prizewinners from member competitions for the renowned international master class for contemporary music with the famous Ensemble Modern from 31.10. to 7.11.2015 in Hannover (Germany).

The master class was concluded by two prestigious concerts at Hannover and Wolfenbüttel. The scholarship included travel, accomodation and registration fee and EMCY thanks the Stiftung Nidersachsen for the ongoing support.

On October 15, EMCY prize winner Can Çakmur performed a lunchtime receital to a full concert hall at the prestigious Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Netherlands). The audience was treated to a full service of music from different epochs including Beethoven, Liszt, Schubert, Chopin along with the contemporary piece, Black Earth by Turkish composer Fazil Say.

When asked about his experience Can responded: "It was an honour and a privilege to perform in the marvellous acoustics of the Muziekgbouw Eindhoven for an extraordinarily friendly and knowledgable audience. It was an unique experience which I will cherish."

We thank the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in The Hague for their generous support:

Victoria International Arts Festival

On July 5, EMCY prize winner Brass Quartet, Trombonet performed at St. Augustine Church in Malta in the framework of the Victoria International Arts Festival. All four musicians, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones, are under eighteen, but the maturity and technical virtuosity they performed with belied their young age and experience.

They treated the audience to a performance of musical virtuosity with pieces by Koetsier, Gabrieli, Couillaud, Rossini and Saint-Saens among others.

Thanks to a collaboration between EMCY and the Victoria International Arts Festival, the VIAF offers yearly prize winner performances during the festival. We look forward to giving the opportunity to young musicians in the future, and cannot wait to see what talents will be discovered. Thank you!

The matinee, ‘Ausgezeichnet’, was one of several concerts that took place in the framework of the 52nd edition of the German national youth music competition ‘Jugend musiziert’.

Young Talents on Tour through Luxembourg and North-Rhine Westphalia

The Young Talents on Tour took place from March 5 – 8, 2015 with concerts in Luxembourg and North Rhine-Westphalia. The invited artists were the quintet ‘Molto Vento’, Kaliya Kalcheva, Jonas Stark and Lucie Krysatis.

Lucie is a 17 year old talented and peaceful Luxembourgish French horn player. Jonas is a serious and quiet 16 year old German pianist. Kalya is a 19 year old skilled and sparkling Bulgarian pianist. Molto Vento is a wind quintet composed of brilliant and joyful German musicians: Sebastian Steube, Birte Jana Hagen, Sophia Aretz, Katharina Althen and Niklas Plückebaum. While they are all different, they share the same sense of professionalism, hard work and ambition.

For the young artists the tour was a challenging experience. They chose beautiful pieces from 18th to 20th century composers such as Joseph Haydn, Paul-Claude Taffanel, Vitaly Buyanovsky and Nikolay Stoykov, among others. They rehearsed and played in different venues: a high school auditorium, churches, and concert halls. They presented themselves at the beginning of every concert, with humor and freshness, adapting their speeches to the audience. In the end, they met the challenge successfully!

EMCY and the UGDA Music School worked in cooperation with various partners to organise the tour.

The three musicians performed four wonderful concerts, two in Luxembourg and one in Iserlohn and the other one in Cologne. They impressed the audience with pieces from E. Porrino, F. Liszt and L. Bernstein.

Concert in Iserlohn, from left to right: Maria Kustas, Kenji Tex and Marie N. Hanssen

The international music group closed their successful tour in Iserlohn with a matinee concert at the Musiksschule Iserlohn and an afternoon concert in Cologne at the Baptist church Mülheim. This concert entitled “Mülheim meets Europe” took place for the third time organized by EMCY together with the Stiftung LebenMülheim.

The concerts were part of the EU programme interNATIONAL_networks!, a training and networking project for organisers of national youth music competitions across Europe. It facilitates the mobility of young people, improves the quality of support systems on local, national and European level and it brings together young people from a range of educational, social and cultural backgrounds.

The trombonist Marie Nokleby Hanssen said about the project: "For me as a young musician it is the most important thing to meet other young European musicians, to play with them and to get the opportunity to exchange with them."

Concert in Luxembourg; Photo by Claude Hartz

For their warm hospitality and support EMCY is very grateful to our partners in Luxembourg (Music School UGDA), in Iserlohn (Musikschule Iserlohn) and in Cologne (Stiftung LebenMülheim) and the kind support of the embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. EMCY is already looking forward for cooperating with them and with new prize winners in the future!

We thank the embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for its kind support.

This project is funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

In addition to winning the first prize at the Anna Amalia Competition for Young Guitarists in Weimar in 2013, Niels Pfeffer has already won several awards and prizes at renowned competitions in Europe, including the Andres-Segovia contest in Velbert, the Enrico-Mercatali contest in Gorizia, Italy and at Jugend musiziert. Niels has been granted several scholarships of the ’Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben’, ‘Deutschlandstipendium‘ and ’Live Music Now’.

Besides the guitar Niels actively plays several other instruments, most notably the harpsichord and the oboe.

The trumpet player Corinne Fischer, winner of the Swiss National Competition for Youth 2013 was invited to perform two European Concerts in Oslo. On 22nd November she played in the Concert Hall of the Oslo Music Academy, during the semifinals of the Norwegian Music Competition for Youth 2013 and on 25th November she performed a matinée concert at the Manglerud College. In both concerts she was accompanied by the talented pianist Ole Christian Haagenrud, previous norwegian "Musician of the Year" and delighted the public with works by Arutjunian, Bernstein, Böhme and Bozza.

A European concert was held on 10th November 2013 in Bratislava during the EMCY conference for national member competitions. Along with diverse Slovakian musicians, Zala Kravos, a prize winning pianist from the Concours Luxembourgeois pour Jeunes Solistes got the opportunity to play at the concert.

From 9th to 11th October 2013 during the International Autumn Days for Music Reinhold Friedrich gave an international master class for trumpet at the music school in Iserlohn (Germany) at which Clemens Garmatte, prize winner of the EMCY member International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Ohrid Pearls‘ participated as an EMCY scholarship holder. Moreover, EMCY Prize winner Silvija Ciuladyte participated along with prize winners of the German national competition Jugend musiziert in a master class from 14th to 21st October at the Landesmusikakademie Niedersachsen, Wolfenbüttel (Germany).

Serbian pianist Nenad Ivovic, prize winner at the International Competition of Young Musicians ‘Petar Konjovic’, gave an outstanding lunchtime recital in the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Netherlands) on 19th September 2013.

The Gordon Jacob Quintet gave a concert alongside the Victoria International Arts Festival in Gozo (Malta) on 21st June 2013. The five young prize winning musicians succeeded at Germany’s Jugend musiziert.

(c) Erich Malter

Violinist Maya Levy, prize winner at the 2012 Belfius Classics competition, and singer Lydia Hoen Tjore, laureate at the 2012 Ungdommens Musikkmesterskap, performed at a concert of the German national competition Jugend musiziert. The matinee concert took place on 19th May 2013.

April 2013 the Association of Music and Ballet Pedagogues of Macedonia organised two European concerts in Macedonia. Along with the overall winner of the Norwegian national competition Ungdommens Musikkmesterkap, Joakim Røbergshagen (violin), many other young musicians were invited to perform at the concerts.

The Spiral Trio, made up of Beatriz Blanco, Pablo Barragan Hernandez(both prize winners of the Concurso Permanante de Jovenes Interpretes) and Federico Bosco performed two concerts as part of the Victoria International Arts Festival in Gozo (Malta) on 22nd and 23rd June 2012.

Every year international prize winners are invited to perform at the German national competitionJugend musiziert. There, the musicians get the possibility to perform at the prize winner concerts or other special occasions. In 2011 the international laureates performed together with prize winners of Jugend musiziert and the JapaneseIrino Foundation.

EMCY's 40th Birthday Celebration

Prize winners from national and international EMCY member competitions were invited to perform in two concerts in Maastricht and Heerlen (Netherlands) as part of EMCY's 2010 General Assembly and as a proposal for Maastricht and other possible future Cultural Capital of Europe to include “Young Talent Stars” in their programmes.